Richard Norton of Southwick Park

Richard Norton of Southwick Park (19 November 1615 – May 1691), was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1645 and 1691. He was a colonel in the parliamentary army in the English Civil War and for a time he commanded the Parliamentary forces besieging Basing House. He was Governor of Portsmouth for Parliament during the Civil War and for Charles II after the Restoration.

Norton was the son of Sir Daniel Norton of Southwick and his wife Honor White daughter of Sir John White of Southwick. The Norton family had settled long before at Alresford, Nutley, East Tisted, Southwick, near Portsmouth, and Rotherfield. His ancestor and namesake had been knighted at Basing House by Queen Elizabeth I.

Norton lived at the Manor House of Old Alresford when he was a young man.

He was Parliamentary Colonel during the Civil War. In January 1643 he led a force which garrisoned Warblington Castle. The castle soon fell when a Royalist force under Lord Hopton laid siege to it although Norton managed to escape. He was appointed Sheriff of Hampshire for 1643–44 by Parliament (Sir Humphrey Bennet had already been appointed by the Crown).

Norton is said to have distinguished himself in the Battle of Cheriton by bringing up a body of horse through by-ways, from his hunting knowledge of the country, to charge the rear of the enemy. He served under the Earl of Manchester, was a fellow Colonel with Cromwell in the Eastern Association. Oliver Cromwell was on familiar and intimate terms with him, addresses letters to him thus: "For my noble Friend, Colonel Richard Norton. These," and commences "Dear Dick." and distinguishing him in letters to his private friends by the appellation of "Idle Dick Norton."

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